O is for Originals Card Confidence Program

Welcome to the Everything ABC's Blog Hop!

For this hop we will be featuring the letter O. This may be the name of a paper, a stamp set or an embellishment. Whatever the crafter has chosen as their O element will be featured in their post.

If you came from Darlys then you're on the right track!

For my O inspiration, I looked towards my trusty Originals Card Confidence Program. This is a great idea book for card sketches, and always gets my creative juices flowing.

I created three cards based on sketches in the book.



The first one is called First Impressions, and required two images at the top and then a long strip up the bottom of the card. I made one of the top squares into a jar image, and added the sentiment to one of these. The strip of paper was then enhanced by gold sequins.



The second one, called A Heartfelt Classic, allows a larger image or sentiment to shine. I used a bunch of flowers as my main focal image and added some watercolour paint and Glacier twine.



Lastly, this Lucky Three sketch helps to anchor a tall and thin image such as a flower, Christmas tree, or this adorable bird! The only extra thing I added to this was a large sentiment.



These cards were all so easy to put together as I simply used the cutting guides in the book and then added my own twist on each card. There are so many possibilities in this book, and other card sizes as well as the standard 4.25 x 5.5.

Your next stop on our Everything ABC'S blog Hop is Stephanie of 365 Days of Cards,

In case you get lost along the way…go to Catherine Nowak for a complete list of participants!

A blue thank you

As you are probably aware by now, I love challenges to push me outside my comfort zone and help me create cards and layouts.

This card was inspired by this week's sketch at Just Add Ink. 

I had some leftover Jackson paper on my desk from a project I will be featuring tomorrow, and so I paired this with the Happy Times Paper Packet.

The triangle pattern was stamped from the Crazy Good stamp set in Glacier Ink. Lots of bling was added with some branches cut from glitter paper and Bronze Shimmer Trim.

I added a circular stamped sentiment on Glacier Cardstock with Cocoa ink as the finishing touch. I originally only had shimmer trim at the top of the triangle piece but felt it needed to go on the bottom as well to balance it out.

Come back tomorrow where I will be sharing a scrapbook layout using the Jackson Paper Packet.

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #160

Another week's sketch has been released at Atlantic Hearts, and I immediately knew I wanted to do something with big bold flowers.

I also wanted to use up some scraps from the Happy Times Paper Packet, which I think pairs perfectly with flowers!

I Cricut cut the flowers, and added a stamped sentiment from the Someone Special stamp set in White Daisy Ink. I dragged the petals across some Pomegranate inkpad to add some dimension, and the middle flower was also popped up on 3D Foam Tape.



I also added the gold polka dot zip strip from Happy Times, and added some gold circles from the Fundamental Assortment to tie it all together.

We would love for you to join us this week- I always love seeing the different takes on the sketch!

Happy Times Australasian Blog Hop

Hello and welcome aboard our Australasian Close to My Heart Blog Hop.

If you have arrived here from Creating with Kara Davies then you are in the right place.

If you landed here by accident, no problem, please join in by following the link at the end of this post.

Today I would like to share with you a creation which features Close To My Heart’s May Paper Packet, Happy Times. This beautiful paper pack is only available for the month of May, and features 12 sheets of intricately designed patterned paper. You can purchase this paper packet for $25.50NZD, or receive it for FREE with a qualifying order of $95.

This Paper Packet was perfect for scrapbooking a scrapbook retreat I recently went to!



I love the stamp set flowers as they can be layered to create beautiful embellishments for your page.I also used the gold zip strip as a border for my page, as the gold is very striking in real life!



I paired the paper with the Zoe Complements such as this journaling box and speech bubble.



The Create title is from the Adventure Fundamental Stickers, paired with a stamped sentiment.



I used scraps of my paper to create some banners on the page, as these help to draw your eye into the photos.



I'd love you to leave a comment before heading off to the next stop, Maz's Inky Fingers.

CTMH supplies used:
Cardstock: 
Embellishments: 
Ink: 
Paper Packet: Happy Times
Stamp set:

National Scrapbooking Month- Happy Times Blog Hop

Welcome to our National Scrapbooking Month Blog Hop!  We will be featuring May's exclusive Paper Packet, which is Happy Times, a set of  12 patterned papers.  

If you have come here from Marie's Blog, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around.  If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants on Melinda’s Blog.

 This month we have 31 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

This Paper Packet is beautiful, and I knew it would be perfect to recreate the talented Melissa's Box that I have been meaning to assemble for ages!

This box is made using only paper from the Happy Times Paper Packet except for the small area of White Daisy Cardstock for the stamped sentiment. The tag is tied on using the Fern Thick twine attached to the bottom of the flower.

 
I made the box 11.5" high and then resized the tag to fit. I cut the flowers at 3, 2.3 and 2 from the Pomegranate ombre paper sheet and joined them together with one of the Gold Bling Gems.

 
The gold detail on the floral paper is stunning- the photo doesn't do it justice!

 
This box could fit some chocolates, sweets, a candle, perfume- anything long and tall would work wonderfully and save the conundrum of wrapping! Who doesn't love a sweet handmade gift box for their present?

Now "Hop" on over to Michele's Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, the NSM Paper Packet is only available until 31st May!  Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this paper packet for FREE!

I am also linking this creation up with this week's Color Dare!

May Newsletter- Celebrating NSM

Yay, it is May! So many new things to share with you today!

Let's start with the NEW Seasonal Expressions (mini) catalogue, that launched on May first.

It is full of great new products, available from today until August 31st. Contact me today to get your copy! Or click HERE to view it online now.

Next up is the May stamp of the month, Celebrate with Cake.

Isn't it adorable? Perfect for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and more. It is only $10 with a qualifying order, or you can purchase it separately for $33. 

It is just $6 with a qualifying order, (or you can get it for $21.25 without).

Since it is National Scrapbooking Month, our albums are all 25% off- the perfect time to stock up.

And the last thing I want to share with you today is the Close To My Heart special for National Scrapbooking Month!

During the month of May, when you purchase $95 of product, you get the Happy Times paper packet for FREE.  (Or you can order it for $25.50 without a qualifying purchase.) There is also a matching D-sized Happy Times stamp set available for purchase for $33.

I have a feeling that this Happy Times paper pack is going to be a VERY popular item, and these monthly specials are always while supplies last, so make sure you don't miss out.

Remember, I always have upcoming workshops and events listed on my Facebook page- make sure you subscribe to keep up-to-date with my latest offers.